The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-04
The MsJors.Issuss a Proclamation Backed Up
by a Calling Gun.
Two Companies of Militia Under Arms
Miss Bowman at the Point of Death
Incidents and Notes.
THE EXCITEMENT AT LOUISVILLE.
Soldiers and Policemen With q Calling
Gun Guarding the Jail.

had died OF her injuries, in circulation yester-
day afternoon, tended to revive the excitement
over the outrage. Toward evening crowds be-
gan to collect on the streets in the vicinity Of
the Jsil. AS night came on they increased, I'M
til by 10 O'Clock several thousand men and boys
were in the neighborhood. There was consid-
cradle disorder, and numerous arrests were
made Later another crowd assembled, prob
ably 500 strong The line of march was down
Jefferson street, and they came steadily and
silently until near the corner of Sixth and
Jefferson streets. when they were met by line
of about 100 police, who had rushed out OF the
hall where they.were stationed. As soon as the
police appeared in the front the crowd began
shouting and ieering, and came on in de-
termined manner that seemed likely to force
the police aside. The latter, however, stood
firm, and for a time there was pen-men hand
tohand fight, which resulted in several broken
heads and prominent arrests
The leaders were soon taken and rushed of to
the station-house. The crowd as soon as the
leaders were taken, began TO give way and took
to their heels. In a moment they were in full
flight, and the police, after pursuing them a
short distance, returned and formed a line
across the street. where they remained on guard.
Among those who were arrested and taken to
the station house.were John Lettsrle and Allen
Mcdonald. The former was member of the last
Kentucky Legislature, and the later is leader
in an association organized to promote purity
in the city government. Mcdonald was also a
leading light in the law and order club now de-
funct.
This morning Jennie Bowman is still sinking
She is worse than at any time yet, and may die
at any moment. The feeling is that her death
will precipitate trouble.
12:45 p. m.-AboutS 8, 900 people are assembled on
the jail square at this writing. Jefferson street
is the scene of great confusion, and people are
rushing toward the jail from all points. The
general alarm sounded about fifteen minutes
ago, which is the cause. None OF the city of.
fcials can tell how the alarm given. It
could not have been done from any OF the boxes
in the city. The militia are on their way to the
jail. No collision has occurred and it is not
expected that any will at present, the crowd
forming ont of curiosity.
LOS p. m.-The alarm, it seems, was the usual
call given to notify members of the legion
when they are expected to report tor duty at the
armory. The people misunderstood the ALARM
thinking it was caused by a riot at the jail.
The crowd has dispersed, ana ne more trouble
is feared at present
Late this afternoon the Mayor issued The fol-
lowing proclamation:
MAYORS OFFICE.
LOUISVILLE KY, April 29, 1857.
'To the people Of Louisville:
"It is my duty as Mayor to enjoin upon the
people the necessity for preserving order and
maintaining the majesty of the law. most
diabolical crime has been committed in our
city, but the law must infict the punishment.
Riot is more dangerous to good government
than any individual criminal. Lynch law sub
verts every principle of law and attacks our
very civilization. therefore, in the discharge
OF my duty, request every citizen to remain at
home tonight and to avoid ali gatherings, and
caution parents not to permit their children
to go into the streets, as their presence in
ereases the number and adds to the excitement.
I must and will discharge my duty to Uphold
the law and to preserve good order, and 1 COM
mand al riotous assemblsges to disperse.
"P. B. REED, Mayor"
While the Mayor was inditing the above, the
first movement looking to an organization OF
the exasperated people, who openly and on all
sides advocated lynching, was being made. In
response to a notice which had been distributed
among the thousands who rushed to the Jail at
the alarm at midday, given to order the mem.
bers Of the militia to report for duty, about 500
men gathered in front OF Leiderkranz Hall on
Market street. The janitor refused them sdmIs-
sion 70 the hall, and the police were endeavor.
ing TO disperse them, when DR.. Berry, a we'll
known physician OF the city, mounted barrel
on the sidewalk and addressed them. He
said that since the brutal crime of Patterson
and Turner none of our women and children
felt any security, and that while he generally
was opposed to mob law, there was nothing to
be done in this case but to lynch the negro
iends. The law had again and again failed to
punish murderers. They had been sent to the
penitentiary when they should have been
hung. The lawyers defended blood-stained
criminals whom they knew to be guilty. If
this crime was not atoned for, chance would
be missed to set terrible example to the hun
dreds OF idle, worthless and thieving negroes
who infested the alleys and slums OF the
city. The doctor was oheered at FIRE.
quent intervals. While he was speaking,
Major Kinney, a leading criminal lawyer,
passed through the crowd. A number OF the
men stopped him, and then surrounding him
demanded, in an excited manner, why he de-
Tended men whom he knew to be criminals.
The Major commenced to explain and expostu.
late. declaring that he had never acted as at
torney for a man whom he believed to be guilty.
He was never more earnest or eloquent in his
life, and breathed heavy sigh OF relief when
lie slipped out OF that throng.
The doctor resumed his remarks and the
meeting adjourned to hall near by, where the
names of about 100 citizens, whose sentiments
we're known, and who, it was believed, would
join any organized effort to lynch the negroes,
were selected. Other speeches were made, and
it was determined to meet at 10 O'Clock to-mor-
row at the courthouse. These men appeared to
be in dead earnest, and trouble, probably
bloodshed, is looked for tomorrow.
Despite the Mayors proclamation, however,
tonight the squares about the jail are densely
packed with men. The police have been able
to clear the street for about half square east
and west of the prison. but beyond those limits
the people are jammed together as close as
saTdines, and no effort 80 far mas been made to
disperse them. Two companies OF militia wait
in readiness for the order to march at any
moment from the armory, some five or six
squares away. On Market street crowd OF
about 100 men are marching up and down, each
with about a foot of white cotton rope tied to
the arm. In a prominent place on the court
house is the illuminated design: ''Wanted, 500
men 10 JON this mob" Up tothis writing good